How newsrooms can get the most from work experience

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I was puzzled. Here I was, slaving away on a subbing shift. And there was this bloke sitting nearby reading the paper and drinking coffee all day.

What was his secret? Was he the editor? I found out later – he was on work experience. What a waste of time and talent – asking someone in and not giving anything to do.

Students arrive for work attachments with lots to offer – but often end up doing little. Here’s how to make the most of them:

â€¢ Show respect. They have come to work – for nothing. You’re doing them a favour – but they are doing you one.

â€¢ Don’t underestimate them. Some are competent reporters. Many will know how to use the internet and computers better than you.

â€¢Have an initial meeting. Find out their experience and skills, and familiarise them with your procedures and staff. Then they won’t ask so many questions.

â€¢Give them a computer and a phone. Why invite them if you cannot offer basic facilities?

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â€¢Don’t treat them as slaves. They will be prepared to make the tea – but make sure that’s not all they do.

â€¢Plan their work, so they don’t sit doing nothing or get passed from one person to another.

â€¢Make it interesting. Let them shadow someone different every day.

â€¢Give them meatier jobs if they can cope.

â€¢Appoint someone who can answer questions, take them to lunch and monitor them.

â€¢Ask their opinion – they may have perspectives on stories and procedures.

â€¢ Develop your training skills – if you haven’t got the best out of someone on work experience, it might be your own fault.

â€¢ Use attachment to talent scout.

â€¢ Be gentle – you may scream at your staff, but not at attachment trainees.

â€¢ Conduct an ‘exit interview’. Give honest, constructive feedback.

â€¢ Fill out their paperwork before they leave – trainees may ask employers to complete a form.

Some publications take work attachment seriously and reap the rewards.

Dave King, assistant editor of the Daily Echo, Southampton, is about to become editor of the Swindon Advertiser. He said: ‘I had a bad experience of work experience at my hometown paper in West London when I was ignored and left to read the papers all week. I vowed I would do my best to ensure students I deal with came away with something worthwhile.

‘We try our best to ensure even the least-motivated students get a good experience.”

Ian Wood, assistant editor of the Manchester Evening News, got his first job as a cub reporter with the Evening Chronicle in Newcastle after a week’s work experience.

He said: ‘We are inundated with requests. I only accept one each week and insist they are already on an NCTJ-recognised course.

‘We expect them to arrive with a good knowledge of our paper and with several story ideas. It is stressed they must adopt a proactive approach and they are warned that it is easy to be overlooked in a busy newsroom.”